Oil-saving clamp.



Patented Dec. 3|, l90l. G. F. BEL'L.

GIL SAVING CLAMP.

(No Model.)

Yv Z .s

lliirnn Srarns GEORGE F. BELL, OF SISTERSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

OIL-envian CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 690,044, dated December 31, 1901-.

Application tiled August 21, 1901. Serial No. 72,824. (No model.)

To LZ whom 'it may conc/crit:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sistersville, in the county of Tyler and State of Vest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Oil- Saving Rope-Clam p for Oil-Vells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil-saving ropeclamps for oil-wells, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient form ot' mechanism for relieving all strain from the wrapping or woolding of the drill-cable, whereby such wrapping will be effectively shielded from wearor damage,resulting in an increased efticiency in preventing the escape oi oil from the well.

A further object is so to arrange the mechanismi for engaging the drill-cable to hold the clamp in position thereon that the same may be readily adjusted to permit movement of the clamp on the cable as the drill descends.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination ot' parts of an oil-saving ropeclamp for oilwells, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which like numerals of reference in dicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into effect, it being understood that the elements herein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention, and in these drawings- Figure 1 is a View in sectional elevation 'exhibiting a clamp characterizing this invention. Fig..2 is a view in horizontal section, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached view in plan of the stuffing-box.

In the present instance only the woolded cable-clamp and the usual hollow plunger carried by the stufiing-box thereof are shown, the casing-head and its appurtenances being omitted, as they form no part of the present invention and may be of the usual or of any preferred construction.

The clamp comprises a head composed of a stuffing-box 1, a gland 2, and a J-bolt 3, with its adjusting mechanism for rigidly securing the clamp upon the drill-cable 4. The lower portion of the clamp carries the usual hollow plunger 5, common to devices of this character. The stufiing-box 1 is provided with a centrally-disposed socket 6, having an opening 7 arranged centrally thereof, and with two threaded orifices 8 to be engaged by the threaded studs or bolts 9. (Clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) As herein shown, the stuifin g-box and the gland are approximately hexagonal when viewed in plan; but it is to be understood that they may be of other contours and still be within the scope of the invention. The socket 6 is engaged by a boss 10, arranged on the lower side of the gland 2, the under face of the boss being provided with a recess 11 for a purpose that will presently appear'. The gland is provided with oriiices 12 to be engaged by the studs or bolts 9, the upper end of which latter carry nuts 13, which serve to hold the gland rigidly associated with the stuffing-box. The gland is provided on one side with a lateral orifice 14, which communicates with a chamber 15 on the oppositeV side ot the said gland, the orifice and chamber being shown in this instance approximately rectangular, although they may be otherwise shaped; but inasmuch as it is desired that the J-bolt shall be held from any motion under the operation of the drill, it is preferredto make these parts in the shape shown. The chamber 15 is engaged by the curved head 16 of the J-bolt, and the shank 17 of said bolt projects through the oriiice 14 and carries on its outer end a nut 1S, preferably, as shown in Fig. 2, of cup shape, whereby the said nut may be readily turned by hand, thereby dispensing with the employment of a wrench for the purpose. Instead of employing the formV of nut shown the same may be an ordinary wing-nut or a polygonal nut, and as this will be readily understood illustration is deemed unnecessary.

The drill-cable 4, which is preferably of metal, is provided with a wrapping or Woolding 19, as usual in devices of this character, and is of a smaller diameter than the opening provided for its reception extending through the stuiting-box and through the gland,where by when the clamp is to be adjusted upon the cable there will be no interference with the wrapping which would tend to strip it from IOO the cable. -As the cable is thus of necessity smaller than the openings in the parts referred to, it is therefore essential that suitable means should be provided whereby when the gland is seated in the stuffing-box the Wrapping Will be so compressed as to present an oil-tight closure, and to eect this result the recess 11 on the under side of the boss of the stuing-box is provided, this recess operating to house a packing or gasket 20, formed by the packing when the glandY is boltedlin position upon the stu thug-box. The.

manner in which this is accomplished will be readily understood when it is borne in mind that the Wrapping is loosely assembled With the, strands of the cable, as when the gland is pushed down on thecable the packing will bunch in front of it, and the bunch thus presented Will be confined Within the recess, whereit isirrnly compressed aroundv the cable when thenfuts 13 are tightened.

In adjusting the clamp upon the cable the nut 18ct theJ-bolft isloosened, thereby freeing the hook thereof from engagement with thefcable, and the nuts 13 are loosened. tof-ree the gasket 20, formed by the compressed, length ofthe Woolding, after which the drillcableislowered to the desired point. The. gland isthen pushed down upon the cable, thus, as` described, gathering infront of it a bunchV of the wrapping, after. whichA thenu-ts.

131 are tightened, thus confining the gasket or packing-securely in place. The nut lgSof the Jbol1t is now tightened, thereby causing itshook- 16 firmly to bind. or clampthe cable that as the clamp is. verticallyreciprocatedf und-er the action of the drill the ln-bolt, by its coaction. with` the Wall ot" the chamber 15, will operate toeect the liftingy of theclampa-ndl thehol'low plunger'. Now shoulda gfusher be,y struck thecilfwill rush up the Well-tubing andv into the hollow plunger 5, but will be preyented from passing ont through the top of the gia-nd` by reason of the packing 20, but will; be forced to escape through the lateralE escapesin they casing-head provided for the j purpose.

Itwill4 be seen from the foregoing description that while thedlevice of thisi-nvention is exceedingly simple in construction it willI be found of the highest efficiency and cturapbil ity in' use and may be used in. conjunction withV the ordi-nary drill-cable and casing-headtrally-oriticed gland having a boss to engage the socket and provided in its under face with Va recess, a laterally-operable bolt having a hooked end disposed Within the head, and adjustable means connecting the stu'ing-box land* the gland.

2. In a device of the character specified, a head comprising a stuiilng-box provided with a socket, a gland having a bossto engagethe socket, said boss being provided with a; re-

.cess in its under face, an openingthroughthe 'gland' and the stuffing-box for thereception of a woolded drill-cable, means for .clamping the gland to the stuiiing-box toy cause the woolding of the. cable to lill the recess in; the

gland toy present a packing, and means cari ried by the gland to clamp the .dfrill'fcablerigi .idly therein.

3. In a device of the character specified,

the orifice, means disposed intermediate. of

thelength of the head toy compress aportion of the woolding to present a packing, and means carriedf by the head to clampth'e cable p rigidly inY the head.

aga-:inst the rear wall of the chamber 115, thus- 4 transferring all strain from` the.`packing,so

4., In a deviceof the character specified-,a

. head comprising a stuffing-box providedwith a socket, a` gland having a bossto engagethe socket, said. boss having a recess in its under face, a wooldedcable passing through-acentrally-disposed orifice in the st-ufng-box and the gland, said orifice being of greatendiameter than the cable, a. laterally-operable. bolt` haring av hooked end to engage thecable to l clampthe sam-e within the head, and: adfjfustable means connecting the. stuing-bolx and the gland.

In testimony that I- claim. the foregoing as my own I have hereto afti-Xed m-y signature in ;the presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. F. BELL.

IOC 

